Setting a Patient-Driven Agenda for Cancer Research Priorities in Geriatric Oncology: A Qualitative Study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to explore older adults' perceptions of priorities for research in cancer and hematological malignancies and proposes an agenda of patient-driven priorities for cancer care research in the field of geriatric oncology. DATA SOURCES: Sixteen older adults (≥65 years) living with or after a diagnosis of cancer participated in a descriptive qualitative study. Participants were purposively recruited via a regional cancer center and cancer advocacy organizations. Semistructured telephone interviews explored participants' experiences of cancer and perceptions of priorities for future cancer-related research. CONCLUSION: Participants reported positive experiences of cancer care. However, positive and negative experiences of information, symptoms, and support both within and beyond the hospital setting were highlighted. Forty-two research priorities in six thematic areas were identified: 1) recognition of the signs and symptoms of cancer; 2) research about cancer treatment; 3) assessment and management of comorbidities; 4) unmet needs of older adults living with and after cancer; 5) impact of COVID-19; and 6) impact on caregivers and family members of people living with and after cancer. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: The results of this study provide a basis for future priority-setting activities that are culturally and contextually sensitive to health care systems, resources, and needs of older adults living with and after cancer. Based on the findings of this study, we make recommendations for the development of interventions that can build awareness, capacity, and competence in geriatric oncology among cancer care professionals and consideration of the diverse needs of older adults in the development of interventions to address unmet information and supportive care needs.

Embedding collective leadership to foster collaborative inter-professional working in the care of older people (ECLECTIC): Study protocol.

Background: The National Integrated Care Programme for Older People (NICPOP), formerly NCPOP aims to support older people to live well in their homes by developing primary and secondary care services for older people, especially those with complex needs. The programme develops integrated intermediate care which traverses both hospital and community settings through multidisciplinary and interagency teams. This team-based approach to the integration of health services is a novel innovation in Irish health service delivery and will require, over time, a shift in cultures of care to allow for the development of competencies for inter-professional collaboration across the care continuum. The ECLECTIC project will develop an implementation framework for achieving, maintaining and monitoring competencies for interprofessional collaboration among multi-disciplinary teams charged with delivering care for older people across the continuum from acute to community settings. Design: The ECLECTIC research design has been developed in collaboration with the NICPOP. In phase one of the project, a co-design team will collaborate to define and shape competencies for interprofessional collaboration. Phase two will involve the delivery of a collective leadership intervention over a 10-month period with multidisciplinary professionals working with older people across two geographical regions (Mullingar/Midlands and Beaumont/Dublin North). Each group will comprise of members of two multidisciplinary teams charged with coordinating and delivering care to older people across the continuum of acute to community care. Observations of collaborative inter-professional working will take place before, during, and after intervention. In phase three of the study, analysis of the interview and observation data will be presented to the co-design team in order to develop an implementation framework for future teams. Discussion: The co-design process will develop core competencies and performance indicators for collaborative interprofessional working. The resulting implementation framework will be implemented nationally as part of the NICPOP.